Fan night tonight at Port Royal; Dream Race to honor track’s legends

COMMENTARY

July 16, 2011

Hello again race fans. Port Royal Speedway is continuing to make news with special events that are coming up.

Tonight the Juniata County oval presents Fan Appreciation Night. Adult general admission is just $10. Students age 12-17 will be admitted for $5 each. That's quite a bargain for a four division show that includes 410 and 305 sprint cars, late models and enduro cars. Action gets under way at 7:30 p.m.

While on the subject of special events, Port Royal Speedway will host another camera and autograph session on July 30. The track also will present the fifth annual Dream Race, which has been named the Living Legends Dream Race. The event will pay at least $ 12,000 dollars to win. Race distance is 40 laps.

Lance Dewease will pilot a Walt Dyer numbered and painted No. 461 in this special event. Dyer and Keith Kauffman are being honored as this years Living Legends at the track. I could not agree more - both have contributed a lot to area racing.

Dyer fielded cars dating back to the 1960s. He had the most success with Dewease behind the wheel. Both made each other's career a success.

Don't forget the World of Outlaws sprint car series returns to Williams Grove Speedway July 22-23. The summer nationals events are always a big deal at the Cumberland County oval. The Outlaws also visit Lernerville Speedway Tuesday night.

Selinsgrove Speedway presents a regular show of 358 sprint cars, late models, pro stocks and thunder cars. Race time is 7:30 tonight.

At Hagerstown Speedway it's a regular late model show.

Bedford Speedway has revamped its schedule for the rest of the season. After last night's event, only two races at the track are absolutely guaranteed, the fair week show on July 29 and the Labor Day show. A visit by the URC sprints scheduled for Aug. 19 is cancelled. That leaves a handful of other shows on the schedule up in the air, as the promoters deal with financial issues mentioned in a note on the track's website.

Port Royal regular Scott Haus and Jeff Rine both travel from the east to race at Bedford, while Bedford's Eric Zembower hits Port Royal many a Saturday.

Fred Rahmer was injured recently while racing in Canada with the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars. Rahmer was hurt July 4 after making contact with a lapped car. Rahmer was the race leader when the accident occurred. Rahmer suffered a fractured breast bone and broke blood vessels in both eyes. He also has a hemorrhage over his right eye which has caused blurred vision.

Do you realize that Daryn Pittman trails Lance Dewease by just 17 points in All Star sprint car Eastern Series points? That's pretty impressive. Pittman won two races in Canada to close the gap. A series champion will be picked in November.

In the world of NASCAR, Loudon, N.H., hosts the Sprint Cup race this weekend. Jimmie Johnson is the defending race champion. TNT has TV coverage Sunday starting at noon.